The Michigan House Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously to support a package this week that would reinstate the youth fishing license in Michigan.
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Those classics that are called the Great Books are most closely associated with Mortimer J. Adler and Robert Hutchins.1 When Hutchins became president of the University of Chicago in 1929, he hired Adler to teach philosophy in the law school and the psychology department. Upon arriving, Adler, rather brashly he admits, recommended to Hutchins a program of study for undergraduates using classic texts. Adler had taught in the General Honors program at Columbia University begun in 1921 by professor John Erskine. Hutchins asked him for a list of books to be read in such a program. When Hutchins saw the list, he told Adler that he had not encountered most of them during his student years at Oberlin College and Yale University. Hutchins later wrote that unless Adler “did something drastic he [Hutchins, referring to himself] would close his educational career a wholly uneducated man.”2 Hutchins remained president for 16 years before serving as chancellor until 1951, and the following year, they did something drastic.
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Even though everyone in her family is from Texas, this daughter of country music royalty was born in Nashville. Aubrie Sellers’ father is artist/songwriter Jason Sellers and her mother is Lee Ann Womack. Her step-father for most of her life has been Carnival Music owner/producer Frank Liddell.
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British comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, in his fifth time hosting the annual Golden Globe Awards, used his opening speech to roast many of the most famous actors and filmmakers in the room and criticize the elitist mindset of Hollywood.
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When Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, they quickly made their intentions for the universe as a whole very clear. A new Star Wars film every two to three years and further adventures into television as well.
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Something really interesting is happening at Malpaso Productions, Clint Eastwood’s movie production company. Eastwood’s films, especially in recent years, portray the best in the American character through real stories of ordinary Americans called by events to stand up and shine. In his latest, “Richard Jewell,” Eastwood continues exploring a theme I’ve called “American Greatness in the Shadow of 9/11.” The result is a body of work that is awe-inspiring and unlike anything we have seen before in American cinema.
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Nashville, TN It is not surprising at all when a country music singer says they come from a small rural town. What is surprising is when that small rural town is in Canada. Heidi Raye was born and raised on a hobby farm Dawson Creek, British Columbia, a place that she describes as the Texas of Canada. Her dad was a John Deere salesman and a Pro Team Roper while her mom was a Pro Barrel Racer. She began singing in church when she was 3, learned to play guitar when she was 12, and then began exploring songwriting soon thereafter. The only genre of music she was exposed to was Country Music. “We say ‘y’all’. I didn’t know it was only a southern thing until I moved to America.”
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The lineup also includes Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, The Struts, Amanda Shires and the Fisk Jubilee Singers along with rising artists Kalie Shorr and Bren Joy.
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If you are one of those people who will settle in this evening with a hot cup of apple cider to watch a holiday movie, you are not alone. Holiday movies have become firmly embedded in Americans’ winter celebrations.
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Circle, a new country music and lifestyle television network launching January 1, 2020, announced 16 original shows and two major distribution partnerships that will broadcast Circle in markets covering more than 50 percent of U.S. TV households.
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There is a scene in the terrific new film Ford v Ferrari where Henry Ford II grills his lieutenant Lee Iaccoca about the failed bid to acquire Enzo Ferrari’s racing car enterprise. Ford learns that Ferrari has a message for him, and Iacocca dutifully delivers: “He said Ford makes ugly little cars in ugly factories.”
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Town Mountain is a bluegrass band featuring guitarist and vocalist Robert Greer, banjoist Jesse Langlais, mandolinist Phil Barker, fiddler Bobby Britt, and Zach Smith on bass – they will be playing at Nashville’s Station Inn December 4th and 5th with surprise A-List guests.
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Mr. Rogers will not be on PBS this Friday. Instead, he will be on your big screen as Tom Hanks who portrays him and the friendship he had with journalist Tom Junod. The journalist and television star developed this friendship after Junod was assigned to profile Rogers.
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Comprised of vocalists Trey Smith and Jennifer Fielder, SiriusXM “Highway Find,” SmithField comes from Waxahachie, Texas. These life-long friends have taken the stage by storm with their memorable music and stunning harmonies. Here is their story.
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There is near-universal agreement among movie critics that Cynthia Erivo, who plays the title role in Harriet, not only carries the movie, but makes it engaging, suspenseful, and rousing. Erivo is nothing short of spectacular, said Breitbart’s John Nolte, and we agree.
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An American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) put personal issues aside and fight against corporate interest to build a fast car for the Ford Motor Company. To truly test the car’s speed, the two take on Enzo Ferrari’s cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
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RCA Studio B is a historic landmark that initially helped Nashville to earn the name of Music City. Located at 1611 Roy Acuff Place, in Nashville, Tennessee, Studio B was part of the beginning of the renowned Music Row to which musicians still aspire. Between 1957 and 1977 over 18,000 songs were recorded at Studio B, and over 1000 of them became hits.
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Nashville, TN Levi Hummon is a rarity when it comes to singers and songwriters. He was actually born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, “literally on ‘The Row’” as he explains. His father, Marcus Hummon, was and still is an accomplished songwriter and he wrote songs like the Grammy Award Winning “Bless the Open Road” (Rascal Flatts), “Ready to Run” and “Cowboy Take Me Away” (Dixie Chicks), “Born to Fly” (Sarah Evans) along with songs for many country music artists, including Top 40 singles for Tim McGraw, Wynonna Judd, and Alabama. His mother, Becca Stevens, runs a non-profit, Thistle Farms which helps women who have survived trafficking, prostitution, and addiction get a second chance at life.
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It is never too early for a Christmas movie that pulls on your heartstrings and makes you fall in love all over again even before Thanksgiving has come.
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Long before Dolly Parton tweeted her praises on October 9, 2019, Candi Carpenter was on my radar. I had heard about her via Kalie Shorr and the Song Suffragettes and had been following her for over a year. I finally got the chance to meet up with her. Carpenter’s ‘Where I Came From” story is like none other.
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This film follows the story of two lighthouse keepers (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) in the 1890s who try to not go crazy while living on a secluded and mysterious New England Island. However, these two lonely gentlemen start to lose their minds and become affected by their worst nightmares.
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Lady Antebellum, Clint Black and Mac McAnally to be Inducted into Music City Walk of Fame; Chet Atkins and DeFord Bailey to be Honored with Stars.
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The makeshift family of Little Rock, Wichita, Columbus and Tallahassee have moved to America’s heartland where they face off zombies who have evolved from the first movie ten years ago.
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This film follows Breaking Bad character Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) who has just escaped from captivity and must now come to terms with his past to have a successful future.
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When I initially heard George Ducas sing at Bluebird café, I didn’t realize he was an accomplished songwriter with quite a few songs under his belt. What I did immediately perceive was what strong, smooth vocals he had and how was completely at ease he was in the intimate setting. When I interviewed Ducas a few weeks later, I was shocked to find out that he had no previous formal musical training. Here is his story.
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A Joker, an astronaut, and group of climbers await you at the movie theaters this weekend. Joker: What some people consider the movie of the year, Joker hit the big screen Friday telling the origin story of Gotham City’s favorite villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a failed comedian, is constantly alone in the world. For a day job, he is a clown which allows him a fruitless attempt to feel apart of the world. However, as he begins to feel more isolated from society, he transforms into the criminal mastermind of the Joker. Rotten Tomatoes movie critics gave this drama a 70 percent rating, however, fans gave it a 93 percent rating. Lucy in the Sky: Astronaut Lucy Cole (Natalie Portman) returns from space after having an affair with another astronaut Mark Goodwin (Jon Hamm) outside of earth. When she returns home, things spiral out of control for her as she starts to lose connection with her family and Goodwin begins an affair with another astronaut trainee. This drama has rated badly with movie critics. Rotten Tomatoes scored it at 30 percent. Audience ratings were not available. This movie opened on Friday. The Climbers: This drama/action movie details the…
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Kenny Chesney announces Chillaxification Tour with Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion, Michael Franti & Spearhead at 20 majors stadiums and more to come.
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Frank Joseph Zamboni never played a second of professional hockey, but he was still inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 for his vital contributions to the sport.
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Garrett A. Morgan was born on March 4, 1877 in Claysville on the outskirts of Paris, Kentucky to two former slaves. He was one of eleven children and his family was forced to live in a segregated portion of the city, so Morgan left for Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 14 in search of better opportunities.
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Benjamin Banneker was much more than just an inventor. As a mathematician, astronomer, landowning farmer, writer, and surveyor, Banneker was one of the most influential African Americans alive during America’s infancy.
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Movies to watch this weekend include a movie about a world-famous actress, a kid’s movie where two friends embark on a harrowing journey and a Netflix series about a wannabe politician.
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Hobart “Hobie” Alter was born on October 31, 1933 in Ontario, California, though his family owned a summer home in Laguna Beach where he developed a passion for water sports.
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George Henry Corliss’ steam engine powered the Industrial Revolution and solidified steam as the superior source of power over waterpower.
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Friends and media assembled Tuesday to celebrate Eric Church’s two most recent Number 1 hits, “Round Here Buzz” (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Luke Dick) and “Some of It” (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Bobby Pinson, Clint Daniels) in BNA’s Hangar # 9.
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On Wednesday’s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – live from Washington DC Leahy sat with Diamond and Silk of YouTube fame about how they came to be and what triggered them to start their YouTube channel.
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On Wednesday’s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – live from the nation’s capitol Leahy spoke to Congressman Mo Brooks about some Alabama football his aspirations to run for a Senate seat in 2020.
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On August 14, the Northwest Ohio Classical Academy (NOCA) opened in Toledo for the 2019-20 school year. It is the culmination of five years of effort on behalf of a group of parents who were not satisfied with the current school options available to them.
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On Wednesday’s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – live from Washington DC Leahy spoke with Kansas Senate candidate and We Build the Wall’s general counsel, Kris Kobach.
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Bicycles, motorcycles, blimps, and planes – Glenn Hammond Curtiss was “always eager for speed” and “obsessed with the idea of traveling fast,” according to an autobiography Curtiss wrote with friend Augustus Post. Before the age of 30, Curtiss received the informal title of “fastest man on earth” for his motorcycle races.
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Like Cardinal Manufacturing in Strum, Wisconsin, Rocket Manufacturing in Rock Valley, Iowa takes “hands-on learning” to a whole new level. Both programs run actual manufacturing businesses with real clients, providing students with work experience in the trades before they even graduate from high school.
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Michigan native David Goode launched one of the country’s most successful snow and water ski companies in 1975 when he was just 19 years old. He was a member of the U.S. downhill ski team at the time, but his career was sidetracked by an ankle injury.
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Josephine Cochrane, born March 8, 1839, was born in Ohio but spent most of her adult life living in Shelbyville, Illinois as the wife of a wealthy politician named William Cochran. Josephine spelled their name with an “e” at the end to give it some extra pizzazz.
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How do you tell the story of the brothers who gave mankind the gift of flight? The men who realized ancient man’s distant dream of taking to the sky? It’s a daunting task, but luckily other gifted historians have attempted to tell their story.
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Cyrus Hall McCormick was born in 1809 on his father’s rural farm tucked between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains in an America that was still developing “beyond the struggle for food.”
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The night I interviewed Abi Hoffman at the Bluebird Café I met two other songwriters. Greg Friia, who was a mentor to Abi in Nashville and Kyle Rife who is an accomplished guitar player and had recently co-written songs with Darius Rucker, Joel Crouse and Ed Sheeran. I knew right away I wanted to interview him as soon as we could get it arranged.
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Margaret E. Knight, born in York, Maine in 1838, preferred a “jack-knife, a gimlet, and pieces of wood” to dolls as a young girl. Her amateur woodworking skills made her sleds the “envy of the town’s boys” while her kites were famous throughout the community, according to Henry Petroski’s account of the young inventor in The American Scholar.
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William H. Miner was born during the Civil War and died during the Great Depression. He was orphaned at the age of 10 after the death of his father and his only son died a week after birth. He nonetheless exhibited an “unswerving optimism, iron will, dogged determination, meticulous management, and supreme self-confidence,” according to Miner biographer Joseph C. Burke.
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Two kids from Milwaukee with a dream of attaching an engine to a bicycle were the unlikely founders of one of America’s most iconic companies: Harley-Davidson.
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Before anything else, Benjamin Franklin was a printer. It’s difficult to imagine now, but printing was a strenuous trade in Franklin’s time, requiring late hours, heavy lifting of various lead types, and long shifts operating the manual presses. Franklin, however, loved to read, which suited him well in his career as a printer.
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by Danny Brewer On the last day of August 2019, a glance toward the Tennessee-Kentucky state line revealed this bright shining light. I am still not sure if that was the brilliant sunshine Mother Nature blessed us with or the glistening glow of the Kentucky Downs opening day? The answer here is a little bit of both. The five day run over the European-style turf course in Franklin, Kentucky got of to a great start. The meet’s beginning saw large crowds and a record opening day handle. The ten race card that featured four stakes races saw $8,464,103 wagered with some hefty returns on the investment. The average win ticket on the day yielded $17.82 on a $2 wager with the lowest return coming in at $10 (race 2 Hellorhighwater). The 10 cent superfecta payout ($2.40 wager when boxed) averaged $626.58 with the lowest coming in at $52.27 (race 2) and the biggest day maker cashing for $1552.18 (race 4). The early 50 cent pick four paid $4329.50 while the late 50 cent pick four came home at $2066.10. The payouts were prolific, but the day was not without superb athletic performances as well. Perhaps the best display came in…
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